It starts with a man who was heading back home to his family where his wife was having their seventh son. He found a baby girl on the walk and decided to take her in, especially when he came back to the midwife running out claiming his son was dead. So he and his wife raised the little girl for 10 years, even when his wife figured out she was the princess. Since the queen was killed and the baby was lost not long ago. After 10 years the top wizard person (extraordinary wizard) came to tell them that their neighbor was a spy and they all made a plan to hide Jenna (princess). Marcia (the wizard) took Jenna with her for a bit and they found an army boy and helped him. Later Marcia gets taken by an evil wizard and they work to help her. With the help of others and a ring that controls a flying ship. At the end of the book Marcia sees that the army boy has a gift for magic and offers him to be her apprentice. Which allows him to receive a gift or something. It is later revealed that he is the seventh son who the midwife had actually kidnapped for the dark wizard. But there was a mix up of which baby the dark wizard was supposed to take. So his name was actually Septimus Heap.

A good YA, standard fantasy to clear the palate and get ready for 2015. ( )

Ei, see ei ole uus Harry Potter. Kohe kaugel sellest. Nii et need, kes vapustava Harry imepärast järglast ootavad, võivad kohe lugemise pooleli jätta. Aga need, kes otsivad originaalset maailma, kus toimetab terve hulk võlureid ja muid põnevaid tegelasi, peaksid raamatusse vaatamist kaaluma.
Angie Sage´i Septimus Heapi seitsmeraamatulise sarja esimene raamat “Wõlukunst” üllatas mind kahel põhjusel: esimeseks on suurepärased kõrvaltegelased, kelle puhul (mõistetavatel põhjustel) ei häiri, et nad nad jäävad vaid visandlikeks. Näiteks kivist lemmikloom, või rotist kuller, kelle tähtsus ja pühendumus hoidis kogu aeg muige suur, või siis vapustavalt hästi kirjeldatud muhe (aga täiesti sõge) vanamees, kes sellesama roti ära röövis. Ja loomulikult rabarulle, kellest kujunes minu jaoks selle raamatu täielik pärl. (Võib ju vaielda, kas boggarti tõlkimine rabarulleks on päris asjakohane, aga sellesse raamatusse sobib see nagu rusikas silmaauku!)
Kahjuks ei saa sama öelda raamate peategelaste kohta, kes on kohati lausa karikatuursed – mõnel puhul ilmselt küll taotluslikult, nt rääkides tähtsast Ebatavalisest võlurist Marciast või suurest kolepahast kurivõlurist DomDanielist, kuid sügavusest jääb puudu ka kandvate tegelaste kirjeldamisel, kes justkui kordamööda peategelaseks kandideerivad, ja kellele lugeja peaks justkui kaasa elama. Selline pealiskaudsus teeb lugemise raskeks, eriti raamatu esimeses neljandikus.
Teiseks üllatuseks oli lausa plahvatuslik sündmuste tulevärk. Toimub kogu aeg nii palju ja nii erinevaid asju, et mingil hetkel ei oska enam midagi oodata. Juba see, et raamat algab sarja äsjasündinud peategelase surma ja ulguva ämmaemandaga, kes lapse laibaga öhe kaob, annab kerge lõuahaagi, edasine juhtumiste virrvarr viib lõpuks lausa kerge peapöörituseni.
Raamatu plussiks on kindlasti lühikesed peatükid, mis teevad sellest suurepärase teose unejuttude lugemiseks, ja ilmekad illustratsioonid.
( )

Despite the series being named after Septimus Heap, this exciting, well written, and wonderful book follows many characters: the spunky 10 year old princess Jenna, her various adopted brothers, boy 412 of the Young army and many of the adult Wizards, Witches and ghosts who inhabit this world that is part fantasy medieval and part fascist dictatorship. I loved it and find it a perfect follow up to Harry Potter. ( )

Many twists and turns, has you guessing from the beginning, "Which one is Septimus Heap?" The cast of characters keeps you interested in the book. ( )